I Became Financially Independent Without a 9–5 — How I Did it by Age 26
Reverse-engineer these steps for financial freedom
Failure and I were best friends.
My dream school rejected me, and more than 50 companies dismissed my applications after graduating.
It took me years to find my footing in the real world, but slowly and surely, I moved in the right direction.
I worked part-time jobs, did a ton of freelancing, and cofounded a company.
Now I work a dream job in marketing and media, and I still have time for passion projects.
I took these steps to go from jobless to financially independent before committing to the 9–5 lifestyle.
Step 1: I redirected my attention to highly requested money-making skills
Adobe Premiere video editors are growing in demand.
Videos make up more than 82% of internet traffic. TikTok is eating Facebook's lunch. Every company, small and large, wants eye-catching video ads.
So I doubled down on the editing skill that I started propagating in college. Now I run a small team of video editors.
Not every skill is a money-making one, but there is a growing list of remote, media-driven skills that every company needs help with. This trend will take over writing this year and in years to come.
Take your attention and put it where the money is. Hone a skill for six months, even if you aren’t paid for your efforts. Watch your skill blossom into a job.
“Work for free” is the best advice I have ever received.
Step 2: I took a risk while working a part-time job
They say take big risks while you’re young.
I say take calculated risks no matter how old you are.
My buddy and I started a beverage company. Unfortunately, the pandemic took its toll on us, and we had to let go of our start-up dreams.
But that’s how these things go — and I learned some unexpected lessons.
In the end, it was a calculated risk for me. I lived at my parent’s place and had a part-time job to back me up. The company going under didn’t burn my lifeline.
It taught me a valuable lesson:
I gave my all in my part-time job even though I put most of my attention elsewhere.
I worked hard — I was promoted to a management position. I held the job for three years until a better opportunity came for me.
Show up on time, take ownership of tasks, and be someone you’d want to hang around. Those three skills will take you places.
Step 3: I stayed with my loving parents
Listen, I’ve seen the ridiculously blinded Linkedin posts that explain how they bought their house following a few “simple steps.”
Sure they saved money, adopted minimalism, and dropped all their friends — but their parents let them live in their house rent-free and loaned them $100,000 for a downpayment.
So, I did live at my folk’s place for a few years, but my point is to do it even when it seems complicated (as ridiculous as it sounds).
Believe it or not, some parents charge their adult kids rent. Other parents kick their kids out as soon as they turn 18.
I’m lucky. My parents saw me struggling. They understood how hard it was to find a job that paid enough to live comfortably in Los Angeles.
Single apartments cost over $2,700 in the City of Angels.
I didn’t want more than half my monthly income to go to rent alone, so I lived rent-free, built a nest egg, and moved to an entirely different state.
If your parents are loving enough to take you in after college, then take advantage of that opportunity to save money and give yourself a significant financial cushion.
Step 4: I moved to a more affordable location
The difference between Los Angeles and where I live now is mind-boggling.
It’s hardly noticeable in the day-to-day. Food at the grocery store is barely cheaper than back home, and Nespresso coffee costs the same no matter where you go.
But gas prices didn’t go above $5 a gallon, movie tickets (even with reclining seats) are 40% cheaper, and my rent is half what I would pay in LA.
I have every amenity LA has, besides consistent weather, but I’m far happier than I used to be.
Paying less for living expenses is an investment in my future.
Since I pay less per month on living expenses, I can comfortably afford my car payment, I can take my girlfriend to nice dinners without batting an eye, and most importantly, I can invest more.
I can avoid the money mistakes most people in their 20s make.
Location matters more than you think.
Bonus thought: Working remotely gives you the flexibility of big city pay while living in a more affordable location. It’s a double whammy.
Bonus Step: I said YES to (most) opportunities
One of my most life-changing phone calls was one about editing videos for a Youtube channel.
I didn’t know if I had it in me. I was pursuing photography and hadn’t edited videos in a while. I wasn’t confident I could do what was expected of me.
But I said yes regardless.
The takeaway is that even when you’re not sure you can do something, the confidence that you’ll be able to figure it out will take you places.
These days, we have the internet on our side. The answer to any question is right at your fingertips.
I said yes to that opportunity, and what started as an independent contract turned into my first full-time gig.
Even that process wasn’t a quick one. I worked on that contract for eight months before I considered working full-time, but the contract on its own was enough to help me quit my teaching job and give me the flexibility to move to another state with my best friends.
Now I’m in a place that truly feels like home. I hike on the weekends and eat acai bowls on hot summer days. Since my roommate and I work remotely, we can clock out and go to the gym together.
It’s an incredible feeling knowing that I built this life for myself.
Now it’s your turn.
Be friends with your failures — they teach you the most important life lessons.
🚨HEY! — Want to know how I manage a 9–5 while also writing 3+ articles every week? I’ve stacked five of the most important lessons I’ve learned writing online into a free Effortless Blogger Blueprint.